Monday, February 8, 2016

I made it to Oregon! and wow it is beautiful here! I feel like I am in the movie twilight everywhere I go. My mission president are the Samuelian's. They are the best! The 3 of us that came from the Mexico MTC got to spend extra time with them at the mission home (3 days and 2 nights) so we got to get to know them very well. They took us to the Portland temple and then to Cape Kiwanda (on the Oregon coast) to see the big rock. Aka the logo of the Oregon Salem Mission. It was so neat. We buried our fears there and together are beginning this new journey. It made me think of the scripture Helaman 5:12 - that the rock is our Redeemer and we need to stand firmly on that foundation so that nothing can bring us down.

Funny story about this scripture, Helaman 5:12. I never really liked it and thought it had no significance. In seminary I struggled memorizing it and didn't even memorize all of (I know, pretty sad). I was re-reading my farewell talk like a week ago I talked a lot about this scripture and about having trust and faith to overcome any fear (crazy right?). And then, in the MTC majority of my district wanted to memorized Helaman 5:12 together, except for me. However we still did, but I had a negative attitude about it (wait for it). And then I come to Oregon and BAM! this same exact scripture comes up again and literally slaps me in the face! now this scripture is of great significance and importance in my life. I now see that God wants me to fully trust Him, to let go of my fears, and let Him help me. All of this was like divine intervention from God. So cool though!

Anyways in my interview with President Samuelian he talked about Maui and how he believes when Christ came to the Americas, that he also specifically walked on Maui. He said he could fee/sense the strong spirit and love that I bring from the islands. It was so neat being with him and I'm actually sad that they are being released in June of this year!

My companion and trainer is Hermana DeRobles. Apparently we went to SOAR the exact same week, but never met each other! Crazy stuff! But she is the sweetest! We get along very well and I love her!

My area is Wood Burn, Oregon. I am in the Wood Burn 3rd Spanish Speaking Branch. It's this super tiny cute branch and the people are so loving. I met Mahonri's friends here and it was so nice to get that link to home through them. They say that I look exactly like Mahonri. I'm just so happy that Mahonri cares about me and is looking out for me. I was struggling for like a day just because of all the adjustment, but when I got to meet my brother's friends it brought comfort to my soul.

Teaching is great here. My Spanish is only improving each day. I get to teach in English and Spanish which is pretty fun! We have 4 main investigators and one is getting baptized in 2 weeks@ so exciting!

Life is great here and I am enjoying every moment. Thank you for all the prayers and love. I love all you and miss you! Never loose your faith and trust in Him!

Sunday, February 7, 2016

This week was a week of transition for Daisy. She traveled back into the US and left Mexico. The 3 of them from the Mexico MTC going to Salem traveled through LAX where they got to see the Tanuvasas. As they made their way to Portland, they got to go to the Portland Temple and meet their mission president, President Samuelian and wife. He sent us pics of that as well as pics with her new companion, Sister DeRobles.

We were fortunate to get pre-pday pics from the Tanuvasas as they traveled via LAX

Super cool bonus pic from Noah Te, (left) Mahonriʻs friend from SOAR that texted him this pic today and said, "Look who I met!" What a wonderful coincidence. He also told Ri that thereʻs a local family in the ward. Hope Daisy meets them soon!!

Hereʻs the letter that we got from the Mission President. Figured Iʻd post it for Daisy in the future.

2/6/16

Dear Brother and Sister

Sister Samuelian and I were so pleased to get to know your missionary. Shortly following her arrival, I interviewed her. She is most impressive and will be a real asset to the Oregon Salem Mission! Out of all the assignments a Mission President has, none are taken more seriously than the assignment of their first companion and trainer. With inspiration from our Heavenly Father, your missionary has been assigned to labor in theWoodburn Spanish Branch. Her trainer is Sister DeRobles from Rancho Cucamonga, California, a seasoned and well respected missionary.

We have attached a photo of them both … they will make a very good team in the Lord’s service.

We thank you once again for raising such a wonderful young woman. She will be a good missionary. We will take good care of her as will the Lord.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

2/1/16: So we didnʻt realize that we would be hearing from Daisy on a Monday. So far her Pdays have caught us off guard on a few occasions but we pretty much knew it would be on a Tuesday or a Thursday. We didnʻt expect to hear from her today, although we are very glad since we knew tomorrow, Tuesday 2/2/16 would be her travel day leaving the Mexico MTC and flying to Salem Oregon. Anyway, weʻre grateful to have gotten these pictures and to have heard from her on her LAST DAY at the MTC. Enjoy her pics, captions and email below!

thank you so much for the donuts mom! I love you so much!

Heading to Salem, Oregon!!

Zone 8

Hermana Tanuvasa and I

my branch, with Presidente Fisk

Goodbyes have always been hard for me and I don´t think they will get any easier. The least I could do was make the candy leis for them.

I can´t believe how fast the time has gone. Today is my last day here in the Mexico MTC. I leave early tomorrow morning and should be getting to Oregon tomorrow night. I have a ton of emotions right now and I don´t know if Iʻm more excited or nervous to get out on the mission field. This week I´ve had a ton of orientations and training that will help when I leave the MTC. It´s been really hard saying goodbye to everyone, especially my district and teachers. We had a testimony meeting Sunday evening with all the missionaries leaving this week. It was so nice hearing the testimonies from so many of my good friends and seeing each of them grow and strengthen that light of Christ within them. I got homesick because saying goodbye to everyone here at the MTC reminded me of when I once, not too long ago, left and said goodbye to all of you. I know though that He will lift us from our trials and burdens if we continue to have faith and trust in Him. At Sacrament Meeting I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost, and my district sang "We´ll Bring the World His Truth." My branch has given me so much support and help and I wish that we could all just go to the same mission. I also made a ton of candy leis, and everyone enjoyed them. I loved my experience here at the Mexico MTC, but can´t wait for what the future has for me. I hope that each of you had an amazing week, and thank you for all the emails, letters, and love. I know that there is no greater thing that I could be doing right now than sharing this true gospel to the world. I miss and love each of you!

Monday, February 1, 2016

Hereʻs some pictures that Daisy shared with us on her Pday 1/26/16 - her LAST week at the Mexico MTC. I am including her comments she sent with the pictures. Also, her email for this week is below. We are so grateful for this opportunity for her to serve and are so proud of all of her hard work and efforts. Enjoy this update from our missionary in Mexico!

we tried to do like the beetles cover thing haha. This is hermana Laub, Tanuvasa, me, and Terry.

Hermana Laub and I during gym time

my district 8A and district 7A took a tour around the entire MTC today. we are the only 2 districts leaving this coming week. we are all so close and its sad that we have to separate

This has been a crazy week! Most of the missionaries that reported the same day as me all left this past Monday! One was Elder Micah Feagai, who was with me from day 1. I got crafty and made these ghetto candy lei, but everyone still loved them! I seriously cannot believe that I am leaving the MTC in exactly one week! I love it so much here, especially the people. My district is like my family and even thought I really want to get to Oregon, saying goodbyes are the hardest! My sick companion Hermana Hawkins had a really rough week. We stayed in the hospital for 3 more days and eventually she had to get a pace maker and they immediately sent her home. It was so sad, but I got word from her though that she is seeing doctors everyday so that she can recover and then get back to her mission. She was my favorite companion so far. Even though there were a lot of issues and I was only her companion for a little over a week, I grew to love her so much! Thank you so much for your prayers and help! The days have been going by so fast and I can barely keep track of what day it is. In my district we set a goal to only speak Spanish from 9AM-6PM, and I was so amazed at how much Spanish I actually know. I can usually say what I want to, it may not be in the correct form of grammar, but it´s still so fascinating how much I have learned in just 6.5 weeks here! This past week we got a new batch of missionaries, and I met Hermana Mederios! She knows the Kaaa´s and was my cousin Lindsey´s roommate at BYU! I am so happy that I met her! Anyways this week we have a lot of orientations and testings before we go out to the mission field. I am so excited, but a little nervous. I am so grateful that I have Hermana Tanuvasa who is going to the same mission as I. Overall another amazing week here in Mexico! Thank you so much for all your letters through MissionaryPackageMx! I get so happy when I get all of your letters and pictures! Thank you for all your love! I miss each of you! Hope all is well at home!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Daisyʻs Week 5 Pday Email - Received 1/19/16

This has been a crazy week! so i got a new companion, Hermana Hawkins. I love her so much and we get along so well! However, she has a lot of health problems and I had to stay at the hospital with her for 36 hours. It was a long and rough night, and I got relieved. Now I am on a companionship exchange. I am so exhausted! On Sunday my companion fainted 3x and luckily i was able to catch her ever time. She has mini seizures and I get really worried and scared. Its difficult for the both of us, but I know that she will get through this rough patch. Thinks are great though. On Sunday I sang at the MTC devotional again. Hermana Tanuvasa and I sang a mash up of 2 songs which were "I know that my Redeemer Lives" and "I feel my Saviors Love." It was so last minute, but it still sounded amazing! I figured out that the only way I can really relieve my stress is when I sing. I am so glad that I grew up surrounded by music. My language is getting really really good now. In my last investigator I taught about the Restoration and Joseph Smith and when I bore my testimony the spirit was so strong and I began crying, and then I made everyone else cry, it was great! I seriously love being a missionary and I finally feel so comfortable sharing the gospel with anyone. I love that I am always on a spiritual high 24/7. I love it here in the MTC, but cannot wait to get to Oregon! 2 more weeks here and then I will be out on the real mission field! I miss and love you all and pray for each of you daily! I know that the Lord will help us through everything! Moroni 8:3 (my favorite scripture! hope you enjoy!)

Thursday, January 14, 2016

wow, this has been an amazing week! the days have just gone by faster and faster. I am learning so much. The Lord really does work miracles. I can basically speak anything to do with the gospel in Spanish, but when it comes to anything else I cannot. it's so funny how things work! everyday is amazing and the mtc almost feels like home, but not quite. new missionaries come and leave every week. some of my best friends left this past week, it was a little hard saying goodbye. I have made so many friends here and my district is like my family! so one of the big events this week was...I got another companion...yes, again! so now i am not in a trio and my new companion is Hermana Hawkins. she was supposed to leave this week to go to her mission in Washington, but because of her health they extended her stay 2 more weeks in the mtc. she fainted 4 times last week and she often gets dizzy, and is weak, but she is amazing. she is such a strong person and has so much love for this gospel that she is willing to do anything to continue on to her mission. going home is not an option for her. I love my new companion and it honestly was a blessing from God that I have her since my previous companion was not the greatest. I try to help her as much as I can like carry her bags or book, grab her meals for her, let her hold on to me while we walk, and comfort her as much as i can. everyone has said that i am such a great companion for her because I'm always happy. i guess when she was with her old companion who left, she was always sad, but now with me she is always cheerful. it is true though, i always have a happy spirit and a bright smile on my face. i love my companion, Hermana Hawkins so much, and i would really appreciate it if you could pray that she may be healthy. everyday we go to the mtc doctors, and they still don't know whatʻs wrong with her, i just wish i could do anything to make her all better again. anyways, i had my worse teaching experience yesterday...it was bad!!!!!! so i wanted to share a scripture that helped me confirm that serving a mission was the lords plan for me, but i totally said the wrong chapter and verse and our investigator read it, and gave this weird face. i didn't realize it was the wrong scripture till the investigator started reading it! it was talking about destructing if you didn't repent. my companion and I tried so hard not to laugh, and when she finished reading, i just completely went along with it and just said yup so when you read the book of Mormon you will feel the spirit, and we ended our lesson. yup, it was so embarrassing! I am having so much fun here and i miss each of you dearly. have a great week!

Hermana Aiwohi

Daisy with the Packages we sent her via http://missionarypackagemx.com

They are awesome!! We are so glad we found out about this site. You can send Daisy letters free that they print and deliver to her the next day. Just email: mpm.letters@gmail.com Put Sis Daisy Aiwohi in the subject and just send your letter. You can even include pictures. They will print it in black and white and deliver it to her. She loves hearing from all of you so take advantage of this service while sheʻs in the Mexico MTC!! Mahalo to those who already have!

Monday, January 11, 2016

First: Just wanted to add what the Ward ordered for Daisy. They are starting to do this for all missionaries serving from our ward. It will be hanging at church and given to Daisy when she returns.

This week we had a little scare when we didnʻt hear from Daisy on her normal PDay. We knew she was in good hands but as a mom I couldnʻt help but wonder if she was ok. I had to pray and just trust in the Lord and have faith that all was well. Then 2 days later we got this email! We were so happy to hear from her.

Week 3 Email from Daisy:

Subject: My Pday got Switched

Hey everyone!

I'm so sorry that I didn't email you guys on Tuesday. I was looking forward to having my day off and getting to talk to you guys, but around 8PMMondaynight, someone from the MTC presidency told us that our Pday would be switched to Thursday. Im not sure if its every changed to every Thursday now, but I was so bummed that it got changed. It was because everyone in my district except me and one other person needed to get their visa stuff because their missions are in Mexico. But yeah it was really confusing, but I am just so glad that now I get to email you guys! Anyways, HAPPY NEW YEAR! feliz ano nuevo! I just sent a bunch of letter home to you guys, but it will probably take 2 weeks before you guys get it. It looks like you guys had a ton of fun! I wish I could have popped some fireworks and watched to ball drop. The Mexicans here love fireworks! Every night theirs firework shows, but on new years it was so crazy. They were blowing stuff up all day long. It sounded like I was in the Hunger Games. You know when their in the arena and when someone dies that boom sound goes off...yeah that's exactly what it sounds like every day! So this Sunday a group of us Polys sang at our devotional! I love music so much and it definitely brings the spirit. The 7 of us sang Love at Home. verse one in Spanish, verse 2 in Tongan, and verse 3 in English. It was so beautiful and I started crying while we were singing because the spirit was so strong. The MTC president, Tenorio loved our musical number and asked if we could do more numbers throughout my remaining time here. I am completely better from when I was sick last week. I think it was dehydration. Another big new is that I got one more companion and now Im in a trio! I love it so much. So my regular companion is Hermana Terry, and now I have Hermana Jolley. We were friends before and we just get along so well! She is my favorite and I'm kind of sad that just in 3 more weeks we will be leaving the Mexico MTC. My district also joined the choir and on Tuesday's devotional we sang As Sister in Zion, Well Bring the World His Truth in Spanish. It was so awesome. Everyone know me as the Hawaiian girl whos name is really hard to pronouce, who is always cold and wearing a snow coat, and who can sing. I love the MTC so much and getting to meet all sorts of people is so much fun! The days have gone by so quickly, Im loosing track of the days. My spanish is getting really good and I know that el don de lenguas es verdadero, the gift of tounges is true. Yo se que el evanjelio es verdadero y el profeta, Thomas S. Monson, es de lider para todos personas. I have mucho amor por Jesucristo y nosotros. Grasias por su oracions y bendices. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen. I love you all and will email you next week!

Luckily, despite the delay in her Pday email, we actually got her first Traditional Letter from her in the Mailbox on Monday. So when we didnʻt hear from her, via email, we at least got to read and re-read her letters she sent. Hereʻs some pics of that. Sheʻs really such a sweetheart!

Sunday, January 3, 2016

I just got back from the Mexico temple, and it was amazing! Each temple experience is extraordinary. Anyways it´s easier for me to send my group email to my parents and then they FWD it to everyone else, but week 2 here in the MTC has been so much fun. On Christmas I got to call my family and it was the best gift of all. That entire day we had special activities and a world wide Q and A devotional with Elder Bednar. It was quite different from my usual Christmas experiences, but it was still special. On Saturday the 26th, I got sick! It first started off as a headache and then dizziness, but then I got send to the infirmary and I had a high fever and then also threw up a coupe of times. The plus side was that my companion and I got to skip our class, I didn´t have to do a couple of assignments, and I got actually got to sleep for more than 8 hours. I am all better now, so that good! The missionary life is quite hectic, 16 hour days of full on learning is a big adjustment for me. Anyways everyday I´m getting better and better at Spanish. It does get frustrating at times, but I know that through time it will just get easier and easier. I love being a representative of Jesus Christ and I love this gospel so much. I hope to read all of your emails and hopefully reply back as soon as possible. I love hearing the love and support you each have for me. I miss each of you and hope you had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you much joy and success in this upcoming new year.